The Justice Department has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury following the newspaper’s reporting on alleged security concerns involving President Donald Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One.
The Times said the subpoenas were issued Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and instructed the reporters to appear before a grand jury the following Wednesday. Federal agents reportedly delivered some of the documents directly to the journalists’ homes.
The subpoenas reportedly seek testimony concerning a possible violation of federal criminal law. The Justice Department has not publicly identified a suspected leaker, disclosed which classified information may have been shared or confirmed the precise evidence it wants from the journalists.
A Justice Department spokesperson did not confirm or deny the individual subpoenas but said reporters were not the targets of the investigation. The department maintained that it was investigating government personnel suspected of unlawfully disclosing classified national-security information.
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The action follows a New York Times report about Trump’s decision to leave Ankara, Türkiye, aboard an older presidential aircraft after attending a NATO summit. Trump later transferred to the newer plane at RAF Mildenhall in Britain and used it for the flight back to Washington.
The Times, citing unnamed sources, reported that the newer aircraft lacked some of the defensive capabilities installed on the older presidential jets and that the Secret Service had requested the temporary switch. The White House rejected that account and described the aircraft as secure and equipped to presidential standards.
Trump said he used the older aircraft for part of the journey so American service members at the British base could see the newly converted plane. The publicly available evidence does not independently establish whether security concerns contributed to the decision.
The Boeing 747 was given to the United States by Qatar in 2025 and rapidly modified by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies for temporary presidential use. Presidential aircraft require highly specialized communications, anti-surveillance systems and defenses against missile threats, although detailed information about those capabilities is generally classified.
The aircraft is serving as an interim replacement while Boeing works on two purpose-built presidential 747-8 planes. That program is several years behind schedule, with delivery currently expected no earlier than 2028.
The subpoenas have prompted criticism from press-freedom organizations and the Times’ legal representatives. They argue that forcing reporters to testify about confidential sources can discourage government employees from revealing information concerning matters of public importance.
The administration’s position is that press freedom does not give government officials a legal right to disclose classified material. Prosecutors may attempt to use journalists’ testimony, communications or reporting records to identify the source of an unauthorized disclosure.
The dispute follows an April 2025 Justice Department policy change that restored prosecutors’ ability to subpoena journalists or obtain some of their records during leak investigations. The department rescinded a broader Biden-era policy that had largely prohibited compulsory measures against reporters engaged in lawful newsgathering.
Current Justice Department guidance still describes subpoenas targeting non-consenting journalists as an extraordinary rather than routine investigative measure. It generally requires authorization from the attorney general, an explanation of why the requested information is essential and efforts to obtain voluntary cooperation before compulsory action is used. Requests are also expected to be narrowly designed to limit unnecessary interference with newsgathering.
The administration therefore faces two separate questions. The first is whether a government employee unlawfully disclosed sensitive information about presidential security. The second is whether compelling reporters to testify is necessary and proportionate when prosecutors may have other ways to identify the suspected source.
Grand jury proceedings are secret, and a subpoena does not mean that the journalists have committed a crime. The reporters and the Times may challenge the orders, negotiate limits on the requested testimony or invoke legal protections concerning confidential sources.
Why It Matters
The case could influence how aggressively federal prosecutors investigate national-security reporting and whether government employees feel safe speaking to journalists about possible misconduct, security failures or disputed policy decisions.
Protecting classified information is a legitimate government responsibility. However, compelling journalists to identify sources can also weaken investigative reporting and reduce the public’s ability to scrutinize powerful institutions. The outcome may shape the balance between national security and press freedom throughout Trump’s second term.
What Comes Next
The New York Times is expected to consider legal challenges before its journalists testify. A federal judge could be asked to narrow, delay or enforce the subpoenas if the newspaper and Justice Department cannot reach an agreement.
Prosecutors may continue questioning government personnel and reviewing communications connected to the Air Force One security report. Unless court records become public, the identity of the suspected source and the precise classified information under investigation may remain confidential.
The New York Times said several of its journalists were subpoenaed after reporting on the new Air Force One.
The Trump administration issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists who wrote about the new Air Force One, an escalation of pressure on the media. https://t.co/8cXYSuSSy4
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 11, 2026
